DEAF WORKERS OF ORANGE COUNTY PROJECT -- DEAF WORKERS WEEKLY BULLETIN -- OCTOBER 23, 1999 Greetings, Whew what an interesting day today! Recent news are telling us that parents are freaking out when they hear that special education students involved with violent crimes or suspected or even associating with people that are involved with violent crimes are being permitted to return to schools. This gives innocent special education students a bad image. This puts a heavy toll on the special education students and puts an extra burden on their teachers to help these students achieve their fullest potential. Not all violent kids are special education students They can be any normal kid with bottled up anger and no ability to release it in a nonviolent manner. This is where parents of these kids can and should help out to make the schools safe for their kids as well as the rest of the school. Parents can help create safe schools. Here are a few ideas that parents throughout California have tried: 1) Discussing the school's discipline policy with your child. 2) Involve your child in setting the rules for appropriate behavior at home. 3) Talk with your child about violence he or she sees on television, in video games, in computer games, and in the neighborhood. 4) Teach your child how to solve problems. 5) Help your child to find ways to show anger that do not involve verbally or physically hurting others. 6) Note any disturbing behaviors in your child. 7) Keep lines of communications open with your child especially at tough times. 8) Listen to your child if he or she shares concerns about friends who may be showing signs of troubling behaviors. 9) Help your child understand the value of accepting individual differences. 10) Be involved in your child's school life by supporting and reviewing homework, talking with his or her teachers, and attending school functions such as parent conferences, class programs, open houses, and PTA meetings. 11) Work with your child's school to make it more responsive to all students and to all families. 12) Encourage your school to offer before and after and weekend programs. 13) Volunteer to work with school based groups concerned with violence prevention. If there is none around your child's school, start one. 14) Find out if there is a violence prevention group in your community and join. 15) Talk with the parent's of your child's friends. 16) Find out if your employer offer provisions for parents to participate in school activities. Richard Roehm ---- HEALTH-BENEFIT CEILINGS FOR DISABLED WORKERS TO BE LIFTED SOON For years, disabled workers have lived in fear of earning too much to continue qualifying for government health coverage. That is about to change as the House and Senate meet to work out compromises in bipartisan bills that would lift those ceilings. o Currently, disabled people who earn more than $700 a month are ineligible for Social Security Disability Insurance. o Beginning three years after they breach that ceiling, Medicare is withdrawn. o They would still be eligible for Medicaid, but would lose that if their assets exceeded certain limits -- if they earned more than $18,000 a year, for example. o The new legislation, entitled the Work Incentives Improvement Act, is estimated to cost in excess of $750 million over five years. The number of severely disabled people in the U.S. is estimated at about 15 million, of which nearly three-quarters don't work -- frequently because they fear losing their health benefits. Employers, facing the tightest job markets in three decades, are anticipating receiving resumes from the qualified disabled. Indications are that they will be getting them. Since June, there has been a 50 percent jump in corporate requests for resumes from the National Business and Disability Council in Albertson, N.Y. The council maintains a database of disabled workers and serves over 200 major corporations. While the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the new law will prompt only about 35,000 disabled adults to join the work force over the next decade, advocates who work with the disabled think that figure is far too low. Source: Joshua Harris Prager, "Loss of Health Benefits No Longer Threatens Disabled Job-Seekers," Wall Street Journal, October 22, 1999. ---- CLINTON MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: Hiring People with Disabilities in the Federal Government Since I became President, we have created over 19 million new jobs and unemployment is as low as it has been in 29 years. Still, almost 75 percent of working-age Americans with severe disabilities remain unemployed. If this Nation is to live up to its promise of equal opportunity, and our economy is to continue to strengthen and expand, we must draw on the untapped energy and creativity of these millions of capable Americans. One of the most glaring barriers to work for people with disabilities is that they frequently become ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare if they go back to work, putting them in the untenable position of choosing between health care coverage and employment. That is why my budget fully funds the Work Incentives Improvement Act, investing $1.2 billion over 5 years in health care and employment services so that people with disabilities can work. This legislation was unanimously endorsed by the House Commerce Committee on May 19 and has been cosponsored by a majority of the House of Representatives; it passed the Senate 99-0 on June 16. It is time for the Congress to finish the job and pass the Work Incentives Improvement Act immediately. People with disabilities who want to work should not have to wait one more day. Vice President Gore and I have already taken a number of steps to increase the employment of people with disabilities. On March 13, 1998, I signed Executive Order 13078 establishing the National Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities to create a coordinated national policy to bring working-age individuals with disabilities into gainful employment. In December, the Task Force presented the Vice President with its first report, and I am proud to say we have taken action on all the Task Force's formal recommendations. As we fight to ensure that all people with disabilities have the health care and other assistance they need to go to work, we must also lead by example and make the Federal Government a model employer of people with disabilities. On June 4, 1999, I signed an Executive order eliminating the Federal Government's stricter hiring standards for people with psychiatric disabilities, an issue highlighted by Mrs. Gore earlier in the year. And last December, the Vice President asked the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to develop a plan to increase the representation of adults with disabilities in the Federal workforce. Today I am pleased to release that plan, "Accessing Opportunity: The Plan for Employment of People with Disabilities in the Federal Government," and the companion employment guide prepared by OPM. These documents give agencies detailed and practical information on ways to recruit people with disabilities for positions at all levels of government; provide opportunities for students with disabilities; ensure career opportunities for people with disabilities; collect and maintain data to monitor their success; and provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. I therefore direct you to implement this plan immediately within your departments and agencies and to bring qualified people with disabilities into the Federal workforce. This plan is proof of the Federal Government's commitment to empowering people with disabilities; now is the time for us to fulfill that commitment. WILLIAM J. CLINTON ---- EEOC SAYS 6 PERCENT OF GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE MUST BE FROM THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY To meet requirements of a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission management directive that federal agencies attain a handicapped work force of 6 percent, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol M. Browner will exempt people with "targeted disabilities" from EPA's current hiring freeze. Presently, only 1 percent of EPA's 18,300-member work force falls into the disabled category. Which means Mrs. Browner will now seek to hire an additional 915 people with targeted disabilities. Besides the hiring freeze exemption, Mrs. Browner, in a memo we obtained, also directed EPA's Office of Civil Rights to develop a "comprehensive national special emphasis program that will serve both prospective and current employees with disabilities." Targeted disabilities include vision, hearing and mobility impairments. ---- DEAFNATION NEWSPAPER TO GIVE OUT FREE 6 MONTHS SUBSCRIPTIONS DeafNation is pleased to announce that we are giving out 6 months of FREE DeafNation Newspaper! Interested persons may sign up at http://www.deafnation.com/free/ to get their 6 months of DeafNation Newspaper FREE. Please pass this on to anyone you know that might be interested. This is a great opportunity for your organization to promote the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. DeafNation was established in 1995 as an expansion of The Deaf Michiganer, established in 1992. It instantly boomed to the top of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in America as a buzz-worthy publication. The newspaper is characterized by an unmatched level of original content, a lively and energetic full-color layout, and high standards of editorial quality. Our newspaper is a full-color, tabloid-sized 11" by 17" newsprint publication that informs our readers monthly with original content that covers the most recent technological developments, business innovations, telecommunication expansions and legislative, educational, and medical advancements. DeafNation provides full coverage of national events and conventions, feature columns, state-wide news, sports within the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, arts and entertainment. In addition, we profile successful members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community regularly. We also have eDeafNation which is a free newsletter emailed every Wednesday. To receive the weekly newsletters, go to http://www.deafnation.com/list.html and sign up. Thank you. Craig D. Van Winkle Account Manager, WebbyNation, Inc. http://www.deafnation.com (SIGN UP FOR YOURS TODAY!) ---- PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE PARTY TO BE HELD AT IBEW LOCAL 441 HALL The Democratic Party of Orange County invites you to a Presidential Debate Party. Senator Bill Bradley and Vice President Al Gore will have their first debate of the Primary season on Wednesday, October 27, 1999. The Democratic Party of Orange County invites you to attend a Debate Watching Party at 5:00 pm at the IBEW Local 441 Hall. The hall is located at 309 N. Rampart, Suite M, Orange. Refreshments will be provided. All interested Democrats are invited. This will be the first televised debate between the two Democratic candidates and will certainly give some insight as to where they stand on issues of importance. Feel free to forward this to interested friends or bring someone along. WHAT: Presidential Debate Watch Party WHEN: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 at 5 pm WHERE: IBEW Local 441, 309 N. Rampart, Suite M, Orange DIRECTIONS: The hall is on the East side of Rampart St., between Orangewood and Chapman. Rampart is between State College Blvd. and the 57 Freeway For more information, call Marti Shrank at 714/835-5158 To be added or removed from this mailing list, reply to demcrats@pacbell.net ---- OCDAC WEBSTORE SUPPORTS THE DEAF COMMUNITY OCDAC WebStore is packed with items for use by people with hearing disabilities and a few extras. OCDAC WebStore can be found at: Http://www.deafadvocacy.com/product.htm ---- JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Position: ADA Technical Assistance Specialist FTE: 75% (Negotiable) Position Location: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), 2212 Sixth Street, Berkeley, California 94710. DREDF is a national law and policy center dedicated to advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, education and training. Position Description: DREDF operates a U.S. Department of Justice-funded, toll-free "ADA Hotline" telephone line to provide technical assistance to the disability community, legal services projects, pro bono attorneys and entities covered by Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA Technical Assistance Specialist performs outreach activities and provides ADA technical assistance, as well as information and referral, to Hotline callers. Duties and Responsibilities: Responds to questions about the ADA and ADA related matters from persons with disabilities, legal services projects, private attorneys and advocates, service providers, businesses, state and local government entities and the general public. Provide appropriate information and referral on disability issues. Discusses complex issues with other DREDF staff. Sends follow-up materials and drafts letters to accompany such documents. Responsible for outreach activities to notify diverse communities nationwide of availability of Hotline services. Completes intake forms and other required reporting documents, and assists with administrative tasks and recordkeeping related to the Hotline Project. Required Qualifications: Ability to understand legal principles, identify and analyze legal issues and provide relevant information. Proven ability to organize and manage large quantities of informational materials. Experience working with the general public. Demonstrated ability to be patient and tactful. Bachelor's degree or relevant experience. Computer literate including ability to use Microsoft Office applications and the Internet Preferred Qualifications: Comprehensive knowledge of the ADA and its regulations, Section 504 and its regulations and other relevant federal disability civil rights laws. Experience working with persons with disabilities in client services or advocacy positions. Bilingual skills. Please send/email/fax your resume and a cover letter to: DOJ Hotline Search Committee Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. 2212 Sixth Street Berkeley, CA 94710 Fax: 510/841-8645 email: shenderson@dredf.org DREDF is an equal opportunity employer, observing federal, state and local laws regarding discrimination on the basis of non-merit factors including sex, age, marital status, race, color, ancestry, national origin, disability, and sexual orientation. Qualified women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and gays and lesbians are encouraged to apply. ============================================================== DEAF WORKERS OF ORANGE COUNTY Orange County, California Richard Roehm President Internet : Deaf@activist.com Deaf_Workers_OC@usa.net Website Nesmuth@worldnet.att.net Http://www.i-sphere.com/eyedeaf/dwoc.htm =============================================================== Feel free to redistribute this newsletter in it's entirety and if you are planning to add a mailing list as a subscriber then let me know for my records. Thank you. =============================================================== Deaf Workers of Orange County will continue to aggressively pursue justice, fairness, and equality for the Deaf Community. =============================================================== Education is the best gift that lasts a lifetime! 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